Chorus of Westerly hosts an Open Rehearsal and Ice Cream Social for New Child Singers
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Westerly, RI – The Chorus of Westerly invites any children in the community, ages 8 to 18, to attend a special Open Rehearsal & Ice Cream Social on Monday, June 5, 2017 from 5-6:30pm or Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 4:15-5:45pm. Children enthusiastic about singing and who want to learn more about singing with the Chorus for the 2017-18 season are welcome to attend either event. The Open Rehearsal will be held at the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street in Westerly, and will be followed by an Ice Cream Social and information session for families to learn about the Chorus of Westerly???s Children???s Programs.????
Any child, age 8 and up, is welcome to attend and experience a rehearsal with the young singers of the Chorus of Westerly, as they prepare music for the annual Summer Pops concert with music director, Andrew Howell. Following the one hour rehearsal will be an ice cream social and information session where singers and families will learn more about summer music camp, the 2017-18 season, music education programs, and have the opportunity for a Q&A with music director Andrew Howell and executive director Ryan Saunders.?? Families can choose to attend the Open Rehearsal & Ice Cream Social on either June 5 or June 6, and need not attend both events.??
The Chorus of Westerly offers several programs for youth that center around both performance and music education, combined. Prior music training or voice lessons are not required to become involved in the Chorus of Westerly. Special musicianship instructions are embedded in the rehearsal schedule of all levels of youth singers during the academic year and also during the camp week.??
The 2017-18 season marks the 59th performance year for the Chorus of Westerly. Summer Chorus Camp in New Hampshire will be held August 12-18, 2017, for all children and teenage singers of the Chorus. Regular weekly rehearsals begin the week of Labor Day 2017.
Please call the Chorus office at 401.596.8663 to RSVP if you will be attending one of the Open Rehearsal & Ice Cream Social events. For additional information email ashley@chorusofwesterly.org or visit chorusofwesterly.org.
The 190-voice Chorus of Westerly is the nation???s only intergenerational symphonic choral ensembles. For each concert in its professional concert season, children ages 8 to 18 sing alongside adult singers as ensemble members of equal rank and expectations.
Founded in 1959 by George Kent and today directed by Andrew Howell, the Chorus has had more than 2,500 area residents sing in its program, with more than 1,500 singing as child members. It is 57 seasons, the Chorus has presented nearly 700 performances to over 1.7 million people.
The Chorus has performed in concert over 100 major choral works with fully professional orchestra and soloists, and has presented 13 major American premieres. While its home is in Rhode Island, the Chorus has toured internationally four times, singing in such venues as Smetana Hall in Prague, Stephansdom in Vienna, Westminster Abbey, and St. Peter???s??Basilica in the Vatican while also receiving countless awards for its work.
The Chorus has also established regional traditions such as their annual Summer Pops??performance which is attended annually by 25,000 people. In addition to its extensive performance season, the Chorus also offers a broad reaching musical??education program to its singing members and area children. This includes an?????in rehearsal??? music fundamentals class for all child and adult singers focusing on sight-singing, theory, and other musical techniques, as well as an introductory music and movement class for children ages 3 to 7.
The Chorus is also one of only three American choral organizations to own and operate its own performance venue – the??historic George Kent Performance Hall.